What is expertise? According to the Miriam-Webster Dictionary, it is being an expert or having a lot of skill in a certain field. I, myself, am not good at much, but ever since I was young, people have always told me that I have a way with children. When I was younger, I would love to play with babies and as the years went on, my love for children grew. I started being a “mother’s helper” when I was around 10 years old and then from there it went to babysitting. I found that I understood them in a way that many others couldn't. Children to me are fascinating. For this reason, and many more, I decided to become a teacher. I hope that my broad range of expertise in this subject will help equip me for my job years to come.
This kind of expertise that I possess has proven to be very useful over the past 13 or so years of my life. It all started when I was maybe 5 years old and my mom introduced me to a new born baby. I was fascinated with how small she was and how adorable, so I sat and played with her all day. I was the only one who could make the baby stop crying and she loved when I played peek-a-boo with her. As I grew, I was constantly introduced to new babies, and everyone used to tell my parents how great I was with the kids. I enjoyed the challenge of figuring out each child and what made them "tick". I would say to myself, "this child is crying? Okay... why? Try talking to them about it. That didn't work? Okay, now try distracting them." Each child was different and with every new child, i learned a new strategy.
I have found that the reason i find education so interesting, is not only because you are expanding minds and continuing history, but it is also a challenge. Teaching a new student is much like trying to make a baby stop crying. Sometimes, they learn right away, but other times you have to keep trying different strategies until it finally clicks. Some people say that teaching is monotonous. i would say that only bad teachers experience monotony, because for every new approach to a subject that a teacher may try, the more intellect they gain on that topic. Plus, the students keep it interesting by always finding new ways to go about topics that may not have even crossed the teacher's mind. I have learned a great deal from my time working with children, and i like to think i understand children much better from having so much experience with them beforehand.
I have found that the secret to being good with kids is that you have to treat them as equals. I am the youngest of all of my cousins, and I have a HUGE family. When I was born, one of my cousins had already graduated high school. Since I was so young, I was always talked down to and hated it. The key to making kids like you is to treat them the way that “young you” would want to be treated. I know that for babysitting, for instance, you have to create a persona that you are their superior, and that is fine! But, there is no need to talk down to them all of the time. Even for an 8 year old, that is degrading. After all of my experience babysitting, running kids events at my beach house, tutoring, and teaching skiing lessons, I hope that i have benefited and am more prepared for my future work with children in a classroom.
Kids are tough. Sometimes being stern is the only way to get them to listen, but I like to think that I have mastered this art, some may even call me an expert. I enjoy the way that a child’s mind works. I like to think of it as growing and very impressionable. I have seen children with broken homes, parents that neglect them, and children that are just misunderstood. My mother being a teacher has helped me realize what I feel that I am meant to do in life… help children, just like my mom does. I hope that one day I can make what I already do often, into a paying job.
This kind of expertise that I possess has proven to be very useful over the past 13 or so years of my life. It all started when I was maybe 5 years old and my mom introduced me to a new born baby. I was fascinated with how small she was and how adorable, so I sat and played with her all day. I was the only one who could make the baby stop crying and she loved when I played peek-a-boo with her. As I grew, I was constantly introduced to new babies, and everyone used to tell my parents how great I was with the kids. I enjoyed the challenge of figuring out each child and what made them "tick". I would say to myself, "this child is crying? Okay... why? Try talking to them about it. That didn't work? Okay, now try distracting them." Each child was different and with every new child, i learned a new strategy.
I have found that the reason i find education so interesting, is not only because you are expanding minds and continuing history, but it is also a challenge. Teaching a new student is much like trying to make a baby stop crying. Sometimes, they learn right away, but other times you have to keep trying different strategies until it finally clicks. Some people say that teaching is monotonous. i would say that only bad teachers experience monotony, because for every new approach to a subject that a teacher may try, the more intellect they gain on that topic. Plus, the students keep it interesting by always finding new ways to go about topics that may not have even crossed the teacher's mind. I have learned a great deal from my time working with children, and i like to think i understand children much better from having so much experience with them beforehand.
I have found that the secret to being good with kids is that you have to treat them as equals. I am the youngest of all of my cousins, and I have a HUGE family. When I was born, one of my cousins had already graduated high school. Since I was so young, I was always talked down to and hated it. The key to making kids like you is to treat them the way that “young you” would want to be treated. I know that for babysitting, for instance, you have to create a persona that you are their superior, and that is fine! But, there is no need to talk down to them all of the time. Even for an 8 year old, that is degrading. After all of my experience babysitting, running kids events at my beach house, tutoring, and teaching skiing lessons, I hope that i have benefited and am more prepared for my future work with children in a classroom.
Kids are tough. Sometimes being stern is the only way to get them to listen, but I like to think that I have mastered this art, some may even call me an expert. I enjoy the way that a child’s mind works. I like to think of it as growing and very impressionable. I have seen children with broken homes, parents that neglect them, and children that are just misunderstood. My mother being a teacher has helped me realize what I feel that I am meant to do in life… help children, just like my mom does. I hope that one day I can make what I already do often, into a paying job.